Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 14771, Benjamin Gardner, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Gardner, Benjamin Sarah
W 14771
CONTENTS

Massachusetts 1.3a
Letter to J. A. Bolles. 10. April 1843
Sarah Gardner
New certificate issued May 1. 1843
widow of Benjamin Gardner decd.
& sent to sent to John A. Bolles, Esq. Boston, Mass. 3
Mass
who died on the November 1808
of Boston in the State of Mass.
who was a Corporal in the Company commanded
by Captain Grant of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Glover in the Mass.
time for 7 mos & 11 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass.
at the rate of 27 Dollars _____ Cents, per annum,
to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7th day of Sept.
1837 and sent Mem.
R. Fletcher W. of Rep.
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 1837 $175.50
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar 37 - 13.87
$189.00
{ Revolutionary Claim } Act July 4, 1836 } Section the 3. }
Recorded by H. H. Addison Clerk,
Book A Vol. 2a Page 50

V1302.
Sarah Gardner widow of Benjamin Mass.
Vol 6. p. 28 Hockessin - private
Manned 1771 died 1808.
Adm s bap s 7m. 11 days #27 p a ann. commencing 4 March 1831.
Mass State troops Capt Grant Col s Glon
Hon R. Fletcher A B

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Suffolk Ss.
On this Tenth day of February, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven, personally appeared before the Honorable Peter O. Thacher, Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston, Sarah Gardner, a resident of said Boston, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4 th 1836; That she is in the eighty fourth year of her age, and the widow of Benjamin Gardner, who was a soldier of the United States, and served in the Revolutionary war. With respect to the exact period of the commencement and close of the services of the said Benjamin Gardner in the Revolutionary war , she, the Declarant, is unable on account of her great age and failing memory, to speak with certainty, but only according to her belief; and she relies on the accompanying certificates, and trusts that there may be found in the records of the War Department at Washington, facts and documents to corroborate the same. She saith that her said husband lived in Marblehead in the County of Essex in this Commonwealth, in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy five, and enlisted at that time in Colonel Glover's Regiment of Infantry, and belonged to Captain Simonds Company; that he marched with his said Regiment to Cambridge at that time, and was engaged in the siege of Boston for eight months. The Declarant says, that she recollects that she went with a neighbor of hers, whose name was Lackey, to see her husband, said Benjamin Gardner, that he was at the time in Captain Simonds Company, and that they were quartered, she thinks, on Prospect Hill. She did not see her husband till several months afterwards; but she recollects, that he told her at his return, that he had been with the Army on Long Island and was there at the time, that the British got possession of it. She says that he was sick during his absence on Long Island, and that she thinks he informed her, that he acted as Sergeant of the Company to which he belonged. After his return from the army, he worked at his trade of a Ropemaker for some time; and in the Spring of the

year one thousand seven hundred & seventy seven, he, with several others of the same trade, shipped on board a ship of War called the General Mifflin, and went to sea in her, and was engaged in a cruise upon the enemy: that he with others were put on board a vessel, which they had taken as a prize to bring her home to the United States; and while so employed the said prize was retaken, and he was carried to England and put into prison there. He did not return home till after thirty two months had expired. The Declarant hath no documents to prove these services of her said husband, only as she hath afore declared -
The Declarant farther saith, that her maiden name was Sarah Ferguson, and that she was joined in marriage in the town of Frankfort to said Benjamin Gardner, on the twelfth day of January in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy one by the Rev. William Whitwell; - that she lived with her said husband until his death, which happened in the month of November of the year one thousand eight hundred and eight; and that at the time of his death, and for several years before, they lived in the town of Salem in the said Commonwealth. She farther saith, that she has remained a widow ever since that time, and hath not been again married.
She further declares, that she is not upon the pension list of this, or any other of the United States; and she prays, that such allowance and pension may be given her, as may be authorized by the Law of Congress in such case. her
witness my signature, Peter O. Thacher. Sarah F Gardner Subscribed & sworn to on the day & year before written Feb 10 th 1837 mark before me Peter O. Thacher Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston.
I Nancy Gavett, wife of Joseph Gavett of the City of Boston, Shoemaker, testify and say, that I am in the forty fifth year of my age, and that I the daughter of Benjamin Gardner & Sarah his wife, she being here now present, and having subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration before Judge Thacher. That said Benjamin Gardner, my father, died at Salem, where he then lived in the year 1808; and that I always understood & believe that he was a soldier of the United States & served in the Revolutionary Army. I well remember hearing my said father say, that he was engaged as a soldier in the siege of Boston, and afterwards on Long Island, but I do not recollect what he said relative to the length of his services,

I further say, that my mother Sarah Gardner has resided in the city of Boston since August last; that she is now reputed in the family to be in her eighty fourth year, and that since the death of her husband and my father said Benjamin Gardner she has remained his widow & has not been again married -
Subscribed & sworn to, on the day & year aforesaid Feb 7 th 1837, before me
Nancy Grevett Peter O Thacher Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston.
I Robert Gardner of the city of Boston, Trader, testify and say, that I am now in the forty first year of my age, and that my father, Benjamin Gardner, died at Salem in the Commonwealth, in the year 1808. My said father was always reputed to have been a soldier of the United States, in the Revolutionary War; and I have heard him say, many times, that he belonged to Col. Glover's Regiment, and served at and during the siege of Boston; and that afterwards, he marched to New York, and served as a soldier on Long Island, until it fell into the possession of the British. I also have heard him say, that he afterwards went out the Ship General Mifflin and was engaged in privateering, in which service he was captured by the enemy, was committed to prison in England, and was absent from this country thirty two months - I further say, that my Mother, Sarah Gardner, who is now present & has made her declaration before Judge Thacher, was the wife of said Benjamin Gardner & has remained his widow, & has not again married, since his death.
Subscribed and sworn to, on the day & year aforesaid, Robert Gardner Feb 7 th 1837, before me
Peter O. Thacher, Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston.
I certify, that Sarah Gardner, the aforesaid Declarant, by reason of bodily infirmity, is unable personally to attend in Court: and that she, the said Sarah, and the said Nancy Grevett and Robert Gardner are credible persons, and that faith may be fully reposed in their several declarations & affidavits aforesaid: - That the Rev. Lucius Bolles, Doctor of Trinity, is personally known to me, & is now the Corresponding Secretary of the Board of Managers of the Baptist General Convention, & that full confidence may be reposed in his certificate which appears to my satisfaction, that said Declarant is the widow of Benjamin Gardner a Revolutionary Soldier of the United States. Peter O Thacher, Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston
Boston, February 11 th 1837.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk ss;
I, Thomas W. Phillips, Clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston, hereby certify that the foregoing, contains the original proceedings of said Court, in the matter of the application of Sarah Gardner, for a pension.
Witness my hand & the seal of said Court, in the matter of the application aforesaid, hereunto set this Sixteenth day of February A. D. Eighteen Hundred & Thirty Seven.
Thomas W. Phillips, Clerk of said Municipal Court

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Marblehead January 27 th 1837 Town Clerk's Office
I, Richard Homan do on oath declare that I am Clerk of the Town of Marblehead in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that I have the custody of the Records of said town and that it appears by said records that Benjamin Gardner and Sarah Ferguson were joined in Marriage January 12 th 1771. by Rev William Whitwell Rich d Homan
Essex ss
Marblehead January 27 th 1837.
Then personally appeared Richard Homan the subscriber to the above certificate and made solemn oath to the truth of the same.
Before me,
James Gregory, Justice of the Peace.

I certify that James Gregory Esdaile is a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Essex and that full faith is due to his attestation, he being qualified & sworn according to law.
Feb 14 th . 1837.
Peter A. Thacher, Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston

I Richard Garwell of the city of Boston in the county of Suffolk Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hope ma- ker, testify, and say, that I am now in the Eighty fifth year of my age, and that when I was quite a young man, and in the sixteenth year of my age, I knew Benjamin Gardner, who, after he arrived at free age, went to Marblehead, married and lived there. I first knew said Benjamin Gardner and work- ed with him at the business of a Rope maker in Cannon Rope- walk in Boston aforesaid, which was about four years before the Revolutionary War broke out. During the siege of Bos- ton, and about the month of August or September 1775, I succeeded to make my escape from that town and went to the American Army which was then lying in Cambridge and engaged in the siege aforesaid. There met with the said Benjamin Gardner and I recollect that he was then a soldier of the Army, and belonged to the Marblehead Regiment, as it was then called. I do not know how long said Gardner continued to serve in the said Army. I enlisted in the Army in the month of December 1775 and served in Gen- eral, then Colonel Knox's Regiment of Artillery, during the year 1776. After the siege of Boston I marched with my said Regiment to New York: and according to my best

re collection I did there again see the said Benjamin Gardner and believe that he was stationed in a Regiment at the time on Long Island. But from the great distance of time I am not willing to speak with certainty to this fact, but only according to my belief.
After I had served out the year for which I had enlisted, I returned home to Boston and in the month of May or about that time, in the following Spring of 1777. I shipped as a sailor on board a twenty Gun Ship called the General Mifflin, Captain Day being the Commander of the same; with nine other young men, who were Rope makers, and among these the said Benjamin Gardner was one. We sailed from Boston on a cruise, captured several vessels and went into the Port of Brest in France - We sailed from France in the month of September, and soon after we captured a vessel laden with wine from Oporto and said Benjamin Gardner and myself with some others were put on board this prize to bring her home to the United States. After we had been on board this vessel for a few days,

we were captured by three vessels of the enemy. I was put on board of one of these vessels, Said Gardner in another, and in a short time we arrived in the Downs. I was put on board a sixty four Gun ship called the Sterling Castle; but said Gardner was put on shore and committed to prison. We arrived in England about the last of October, and I did not return home to America till more than three years afterwards; nor do I recollect of seeing said Gardner during that period, nor till some years after the war. I understood at the time that we were together, that he was a married man, and am informed & believe that the widow of said Gardner is still living at an advanced age in this city. I further say, that I am a Pensioner of the United States, on account of my services, in the War of the Revolution.
Richard Caswell
Suffolk ss. February 2 d . 1837. Then Richard Caswell appear- ed and made oath to the truth of the contents of the above affidavit by him subscribed in my presence. I certify that he is a credible person entitled to be believed on his oath. Peter C. Thacher. Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston.

I hereby certify that I was well acquainted with the late Mr Henry Gardner of Salem Mass who deceased in November 1808, & with his widow who survives, & esteemed them as very worthy people. Mr Gardner was a member of the Church of which I was then pastor, & his wife a usual attendant with him at public worship
L. Bolles
Boston Jany 31. 1837
Suffolk ss, In this 11 th of February 1837. Then the Rev. Lucius Bolles, Doctor of Divinity, personally appeared & made solemn oath to the truth of the facts contained in the above certificate before me -
Peter O Thacher Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Boston

I, William Bean of Marblehead, in the county of Essex, and commonwealth of Massachusetts, of lawful age, do hereby depose and say, that at the time that the regiment of Infantry, under the command of Col. John Glover, marched from Marblehead, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & seventy five, that Benjamin Gendner, of this place, and a person well known to me, was a member of Capt. Hincks's company, and marched with us from this place to Cambridge, and we were there quartered together eight months - William Bean
Essex ss: Marblehead Jan 27 th A.D: 1837. Then the above-named William Bean personally appeared before me, and after being carefully examined, and duly cautioned to testify the whole true & nothing but the truth, made oath that the foregoing deposition by him subscribed is true -
William Fabens Justice of the Peace -
I certify that William Fabens is a Justice of the Peace within and for the County of Essex, duly qualified therefor, and that full faith is due to his attestation.
Peter J. Thacher, Judge the Municipal Court of the City of Boston -

apl 24. 1843
Wah.
Sarah Gardner Maysville Ky 1836 London Cab.
Vertical cursive text: Dear Sir I am truly yours affectionately your father

Secretary's Office Boston
21 April 1843
Sir,
I trust that under the circumstances of the case, the enclosed application may be deemed sufficient
Respg yours
John A. Bolles
J. L. Edwards Esq.

Secretary's Office Boston April 7. 1843.
Sir,
The Widow Gardner received from Mr. Secretary Poinsett several years ago, a Certifi- cate that she was entitled under the Act of July 4 th 1836, to a pension of $27 as the Wid- ow of Benjamin Gardner, a Corporal in the Revo- lutionary War. Under this Certificate she has received her pension up to September last, her son Robert usually acting for her as Agent to receive and pay over. That Certificate was lost or stolen from the desk in my own office, a few weeks ago. And until it be replaced, the old lady, who is very poor, as well as of great age and exceedingly infirm, must remain without her pension. Can you send another Certificate?
Respectfully Yours,
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions, Jno A. Dolles Secretary of the Commonwealth

Boston, August 25 th 1839
J. L. Edwards Esq d Commissioner of Pensions &c
Sir,
I inclose a certificate from the Secretary of War for men- wealth, taken from a duplicate Muster roll remaining in his office from which it appears, that Benjamin Gardner belonged to the company of Capt. Thomas Grant, Glover's Regiment, and was not under Capt Thomas Simonds, as was believed by Mrs Sarah Gardner his widow, and so stated in her claim, which remains on the files in your Department, as stated by you in your respected favour of May 29 th last. This roll shows, that he enlisted on May 19 th & is made up to August 18 th 1775. I understand that the subsequent muster rolls are now in your possession; and I must ask the favour of you, in behalf of this aged Lady, to examine them; and if it shall appear, as I trust will be found, that Benjamin Gardner did belong to the eight months service, it will render her claim clear, and that she will be en- titled to her pension.
With great respect, I am, Sir, Your obed t servant
Peter O. Thacher

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretarys' Office Aug t 24. 1837
I hereby certify that it appears by a muster roll remaining in this Office that Benjamin Gardner served as a Second Corporal in Capt a Thomas Grants Company, Col. Glover's Regiment, from May 19 th to August 1 st 1775, which service is credited on said roll as being "two months, two weeks and four days."
Witness my hand, and the Seal of the State.
John P. Bigelow
Sec'y of the Council

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, Boston April 21 st 1843.
I hereby Certify , That William Tufts is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Suffolk.
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
Jno A. Bolles Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Application for a new Pension Certificate. County of Suffolk. ss. Massachusetts
I, John AtBols, of Boston, in said Suffolk, on oath declare & say that I know Sarah Gardner, widow of Benjamin  Robert Gardner a Corporal in the War of the Revolution, & that she received a Certificate under the signature & seal of the Secretary of War that her name was placed on the pension roll of Massachusetts, under the act of July 4, 1836. & that up to March last, said Sarah Gardner received the pension of $27 a year for her said deceased husband's services. I do further on oath declare that said Sarah Gardner is still living & a widow: & that said Certificate was by her sent to my office, & there stolen or lost or about on the tenth day of March last, so that Sarah has been unable to procure the amount of pension due her on the fourth of March.

I do further on oath declare that I this day called at the residence of said Sarah Gardner, in whom I well know to be the same person that is named in said Certificate, - & that by reason of her extreme old age, bodily in- firmity & sickness, she is now unable to understand, take or subscribe an oath, - & that this is the cause of the present form of Application for a new Certificate
John A Bolles
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Suffolk. 21 April 1843
Then personally appeared said John A Bolles & made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration by him subscri- bed: before me
Wm. Tufts.
Justice of the Peace

I, Robert Gardner, son of Sarah Gardner of Benjamin Gardner, in the declar- tion of John A. Bolles Esq. mentioned, do solemnly declare on oath, that the facts set forth in the declaration of said Bolles, hereto prefixed are, to my knowledge, true.
Robert Gardner
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk ss
April 21. 1843
Personally appeared said Robert Gard- ner & subscribed & swore to the above declaration in before me
Wm Tufts.
Justice of the Peace

House of Representatives Sept. 5. 1837.
J. L. Paine Esq.
Dear Sir
I inclose to you some papers forwarded to me by the Hon. P. D. Natchers of Boston in relation to a claim of Mrs Sarah Gordan -
I am informed by Judge Natchers that he has before communicated with you on the subject.
You will much oblige me by communicating to me the result as soon as may be found convenient with great respect

Boston, Feb y 16 th 1837.
J. L. Edwards Esq. Dear Sir,
I enclose the Declaration of Mrs Sarah Gardner the widow of Benjamin Gardner, a Revolutionary Soldier of the United States. In addition to the evidence of his service, which accompanies this paper, I beg to refer you to such documents as may now be in the War Department relative to the Regiment of Col. Glover which marched from Marblehead in 1775. I understand that these documents have been transferred from the office of the Secretary of War to the War Department, and that they are now in your custody at Washington. I understand from Mr Homer, that they will probably contain something to show the term of service of Benjamin Gardner.
With regard to his service on board the Gen. Mifflin, I am uncertain whether it will entitle him to a pension, unless it should appear by your archives, that that ship was employed by the United States, of which fact I am ignorant.
I had the honor to enclose on the 11 th inst y , the Declaration of Mrs Sarah Ramsdell, and on the 12 th that of Mrs Elizabeth the Hayden; which I hope were duly received, & that I shall receive your decision in them in course.
Please to address your reply & determination in the Declaration of Mrs Gardner to Sir Yours O be Serv t .
Peter O. Thacher

Pay
WIDOW, &c.
cur
File No. 14771
Sarah Gardner
Widow of
Benjamin Gardner
Corps Rev. War
Act: July 4 th 1836
Index:—Vol. a , Page 264
[Arrangement of 1870.]